Silding track structure

ABSTRACT

A sliding track structure includes an inner track, a middle track, an outer track, an inner ball bearing member, an outer ball bearing member, and a separation mechanism. The inner track is slidably joined with the middle track in conjunction with the inner ball bearing member. The outer track is slidably joined with the middle track in conjunction with the outer ball bearing member. The separation mechanism is disposed at a front end of the middle track to facilitate the separating of the outer track from the middle track.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates generally to a drawer-sliding trackstructure, and more particularly to a drawer-sliding track structurewith a separation mechanism allowing a drawer to be easily detached froma cabin, table and the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The conventional drawer-sliding structure is generally formed ofa C-shaped outer slide track fastened to the vertical panel of a table,bureau, vanity, etc., a C-shaped inner track fastened to a drawer of thetable, bureau, vanity, etc., a C-shaped middle track for coupling theinner track with the outer track, a first ball bearing member forfastening slidably the inner track with the middle track, and a secondball bearing member for fastening slidably the middle track with theouter track. The drawer can be thus drawn out and then pushed back intoplace by means of the drawer-sliding structure.

[0003] U.S. Pat. No. 5,507,571 discloses a drawer-sliding structure of atelescopic construction, which comprises a middle track and an innertrack disposed in the middle track. The inner track is provided with aseparation mechanism by which the inner track can be separated from themiddle track. This prior art structure is relatively wide and istherefore limited in use. There are other conventional structures whichare relatively small in width and are devoid of an appropriateseparation mechanism, due to the fact that the separation mechanismtakes up a substantial space.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The primary objective of the present invention is to provide adrawer-sliding structure with a separation mechanism which is simple inconstruction and small in size.

[0005] A sliding track structure constructed according to the presentinvention comprises:

[0006] a middle track having an H-shaped cross section, comprising ahorizontal plate, and two vertical plates fastened respectively at twosides of said horizontal plate;

[0007] an inner track adapted to be fastened with a table, bureau,vanity, or the like;

[0008] an outer track adapted to be fastened with a drawer of the table,bureau, vanity, or the like;

[0009] an inner ball bearing member mounted on one side of said twovertical plates of said middle track to enable said inner track to slidealong a longitudinal direction of said middle track on said one sidethereof; and

[0010] an outer ball bearing member mounted on other side of said twovertical plates of said middle track to enable said outer track to slidealong the longitudinal direction of said middle track on said other sidethereof; wherein

[0011] said outer track is provided at one end with an arresting pieceto prevent separation of said outer ball bearing member from the one endof said outer track;

[0012] said outer ball bearing member is provided with a folded portionclose to said horizontal plate of said middle track for preventing saidouter ball bearing member from separating from said middle track,wherein said folded portion

[0013] wherein said horizontal plate of said middle track is providedwith a separation mechanism which is able to be switched between alocking position and an unlocking position; when said separationmechanism is in said locking position, it will be in contact with afront end of said folded portion of said outer ball bearing member atthe time when said outer track is slid along the longitudinal directionof said middle track toward a front end of said middle track, so thatthe outer track together with the outer ball bearing member are retainedwith the middle track; when said separation mechanism is in theunlocking position, said folded portion of said outer ball bearingmember will move past said separation mechanism at the time when saidouter track is slid along the longitudinal direction of said middletrack toward the front end of said middle track, so that said outertrack and said outer ball bearing member are separated from said middletrack.

[0014] Preferably, said separation mechanism comprises a sliding memberhaving a stop portion and a sliding portion, said sliding member beingreceived in a receiving hole on the horizontal plate and at the frontend of said middle track such that said stop portion is jutted out ofsaid receiving hole to be contiguous to said outer track, and furtherthat said sliding portion is contiguous to said horizontal plate of saidmiddle track, when said separation mechanism is in said lockingposition, wherein said stop portion is adapted to be in contact withsaid front end of said folded portion of said outer ball bearing member;and still further that said stop portion is not jutted out of saidreceiving hole, when said separation mechanism is in said unlockingposition, wherein said stop portion is not able to be in contact withsaid front end of said folded portion of said outer ball bearing member.More preferably, said sliding member comprises a cube as said stopportion and a tongue extending from said cube, wherein said cube ispartially jutted out of said receiving hole to be contiguous to saidouter track, and said tongue is contiguous to said inner track, whensaid separation mechanism is in said locking position. Alternatively,said sliding member comprises a cube acting as said stop portion, andtwo inclined slots located in two opposite sides of said cube to act assaid sliding portion; wherein said separation mechanism furthercomprises two inclined pillars located at two opposite sides of saidreceiving hole of said horizontal plate of said middle track, and saidtwo inclined pillars are received in said two inclined slots.

[0015] Preferably, said separation mechanism further comprises acarrying seat which is fastened with the front end of said horizontalplate of said middle track and is provided with a rectangular holeserving as said receiving hole, with said rectangular hole being equalin width to said cube and being greater in length to said cube; whereinsaid two inclined pillars are located in two opposite sides of saidrectangular hole of said carrying seat.

[0016] Preferably, said horizontal plate of said middle track isprovided at the front end thereof with a rectangular fastening holecorresponding to said carrying seat; wherein said carrying seat isprovided in the fringe with an insertion slot for fitting three sideedges of said rectangular fastening hole; wherein said horizontal plateof said middle track is provided with a pliable confinement piece at theremaining side edges of said rectangular fastening hole for confiningsaid carrying seat in said fastening hole.

[0017] Preferably, said separation mechanism comprises a pivotingmember, and a carrying seat which is fastened with the horizontal plateand at the front end of said middle track, said pivoting membercomprising a stop portion and a tongue, said pivoting member beingfastened pivotally with said carrying seat such that said tongue isjutted out of one side of the horizontal plate of said middle track, andthat said stop portion is jutted out of other side of the horizontalplate of said middle track, and further that said stop portion iscontiguous to said outer track, when said separation mechanism is insaid locking position, wherein said stop portion is adapted to be incontact with said front end of said folded portion of said outer ballbearing member; and still further that said stop portion of saidpivoting member is turned to said one side of the horizontal plate ofsaid middle track, when said separation mechanism is in said unlockingposition, wherein said stop portion is not able to be in contact withsaid front end of said folded portion of said outer ball bearing member.More preferably, said pivoting member comprises a right-angledtriangular body serving as said stop portion, said tongue is extendedupwardly and slantingly from a vertical side of said right-angledtriangular body, and said carrying seat is provided at one end with twoarms which are parallel to each other and are provided with a pivotinghole, wherein two pivots are provided on two opposite sides of saidright-angled triangular body and at positions away from said verticalside of right-angled triangular body, and said pivoting member isfastened pivotally between said two arms with said two pivots beingreceived in said pivoting holes, such that said tongue of said pivotingmember is contiguous to one side of said carrying seat, and that saidright-angled triangular body is exposed at other side of said carryingseat at the time when said separation is in said locking position; andsaid pivoting member is turned to said one side of said carrying seat,so that said right-angled triangular body is not exposed at other sideof said carrying seat, when said separation mechanism is in saidunlocking position

[0018] The features and the advantages of the present invention will bemore readily understood upon a thoughtful deliberation of the followingdetailed description of the preferred embodiments of the presentinvention with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019]FIG. 1 shows an exploded view of a first preferred embodiment ofthe present invention.

[0020]FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of the sliding member of theseparation mechanism and the middle track of the first preferredembodiment of the present invention.

[0021]FIGS. 3A and 3B are sectional schematic view of the sliding memberof the separation mechanism of the first preferred embodiment of thepresent invention in action.

[0022]FIGS. 4A and 4B are partial top views of the sliding member of theseparation mechanism of the first preferred embodiment of the presentinvention in action.

[0023]FIG. 5 shows an exploded view of a second preferred embodiment ofthe present invention.

[0024]FIG. 6A shows a schematic perspective view of the second preferredembodiment of the present invention in the locking state.

[0025]FIG. 6B shows a schematic perspective view of the second preferredembodiment of the present invention in the unlocking state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0026] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the first preferred embodiment of thepresent invention comprises an inner track 10 adapted to be fastenedwith a table, bureau, or vanity, an outer track 30 adapted to befastened with a drawer of the table, a middle track 20 having anH-shaped cross section, and two ball bearing members. Only one ballbearing member 40 is shown in the drawings. The two ball bearing membersare symmetrical in construction and similar in function to each other,with one of the two ball bearing members (not shown in the drawings)being disposed between the inner track 10 and the middle track 20 suchthat the ball bearing member is confined by an arresting piece 11 of theinner track 10 and an arresting piece (not shown in the drawings) of themiddle track 20. Other one of the two ball bearing members 40 is mountedin the interior of the outer track 30 such that the ball bearing member40 is located between two arresting pieces 31 and 32 of the outer track30, and that the ball bearing member 40 is capable of sliding in theinterior of the outer track 30.

[0027] The inner track 10 has a flat plate 13 and two arcuate plates 14extending vertically in the same direction from the flat plate 13.Similarly, the outer track 30 has a flat plate 33 and two arcuate plates34 extending vertically in the same direction from the flat plate 33.The arresting pieces 11 and 12 of the inner track 10 are verticallyextended from the flat plate 13 and made by punching. Similarly, thefirst arresting piece 31 of the outer track 30 is vertically extendedfrom the flat plate 33 and is made by punching. The second arrestingpiece 32 of the outer track 30 is formed of two projections extendingrespectively from the two arcuate plates 34. The outer track 30 isjoined with the middle track 20 by pushing the outer track 30 to receivethe middle track 20 in the ball bearing member 40 from the end havingthe second arresting piece 32.

[0028] The ball bearing members 40 are formed of a ball bearing seat anda plurality of ball bearings 43. The ball bearing seat comprises abottom plate 41 and two webs 42 extending vertically from the bottomplate 41. The webs 42 are provided with a plurality of through holes forreceiving the ball bearings 43. The bottom plate 41 is provided in themidsegment with a folded portion 44.

[0029] The middle track 20 has a flat plate 21, and two vertical plates22 at ends of the flat plate 21, each of which is provided with twoarcuate slots 23 corresponding in location to the arcuate plates 14 ofthe inner track 10 and the arcuate plates 34 of the outer track 30. Theball bearings 43 are held by the arcuate slots 23 and the arcuate plates14 and 34.

[0030] The present invention comprises a separation mechanism 50 whichis intended to separate the outer track 30 from the middle track 20. Themiddle track 20 is provided at a front end of the flat plate thereofwith a rectangular hole 51 and a pliable confinement piece 52 located atone side of the rectangular hole 51. The separation mechanism 50 has aplastic frame 53 and a sliding member 56. The sliding member 56 has acube 561 (shown in FIG. 3A) which is equal in width to and smaller inlength than the plastic frame 53. The sliding member 56 further has twoinclined slots 57, an enlarged protrusion 58, and a tongue 59. Theinclined slots 57 are located respectively in two opposite outersurfaces of the cube. The enlarged protrusion 58 is located in the topof the cube. The tongue 59 is extended from the rear side surface of thecube. The plastic frame 53 is provided in the outer edge with aninsertion slot 54 into which three sides of the rectangular hole 51 areinserted. The plastic frame 53 is provided in two opposite inner sideswith two inclined pillars 55, which are fitted into the inclined slots57 of the sliding member 57. As shown in FIG. 2, the confinement piece52 is pushed from one side toward other side to bring about arectangular space, so as to enable the plastic frame 53 to be disposedin the rectangular hole 51. Thereafter, the two inclined slots 57 of thesliding member 56 are aligned with the two inclined pillars 55 of theplastic frame 53. The sliding member 56 is slid into the plastic frame53 such that the enlarged protrusion 58 of the sliding member 56 comesin contact with the plastic frame 53. Finally, the confinement piece 52is pushed back to its original position, so as to fix the plastic frame53. As a result, the separation mechanism 50 is mounted on the middletrack 20, as shown in FIG. 3A. Similarly, as the sliding member 56 ispushed upwards, the sliding member 56 is raised slantingly such that theunderside of the cube 561 of the sliding member 56 is level to the flatplate 21 of the middle track 20, as shown in FIG. 3B. In light of theinclined plane of the tongue 59 and the engagement of the inclined slots57 with the inclined pillars 55, the sliding member 56 can be raisedslantingly.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 1, the inner track 10 is to be fastened to atable, bureau, vanity, etc. In order to mount the outer track 30 and theball bearing member 40 on the middle track 20, the sliding member 56 ispushed to locate at the positions as shown in FIGS. 3B and 4B, and theouter track 30 and the ball bearing member 40 are pushed to receive themiddle track 20 from the end which is provided with the arresting piece32. The ball bearing member 40 is disposed between the outer track 30and the middle track 20 such that the folded portion 44 of the bottomplate 41 of the ball bearing member 40 is jutted out of the flat plate33 of the outer track 30. As the front end of the folded portion 44 ofthe ball bearing member 40 is pushed beyond the sliding member 56, thesliding member 56 is pushed downward to locate at the positions as shownin FIGS. 3A and 4A. As a result, the front end of the folded portion 44will be stopped by the cube 561 of the sliding member 56 of theseparation mechanism 50, when the outer track 30 together with the ballbearing member 40 are pulled along the longitudinal direction and towarda front end of the middle track 20, and thus the outer track 30 and theball bearing member 40 can not escape from the middle track 20.

[0032] Assuming that a drawer is fastened with the outer track 30, andthat the drawer is drawn out fully, the outer track 30 is pulled outfrom the middle track 20, while the middle track 20 is also being pulledout from the inner track 10. The outer track 30 is prevented from beingseparated from the middle track 20 as shown in FIG. 3A. As the drawer ispushed back into place, the middle track 20 is retracted into the innertrack 10 such that the middle track 20 is stopped by the first arrestingpiece 11 and/or the second arresting piece 12. In the meantime, theouter track 30 is retracted such that the arresting piece 31 of theouter track 30 comes in contact with the front end of the middle track20.

[0033] The outer track 30 can be separated from the middle track 20 bypulling out the outer track 30 from the middle track 20 to expose thesliding member 56, which is then pushed upwards until such time when theunderside of the cube 561 of the sliding member 56 is level to the flatplate 21 of the middle track 20, thereby enabling the outer track 30together with the ball bearing member 40 to be completely pulled out ofthe middle track 20.

[0034] As shown in FIGS. 5, 6A, and 6B, a separation mechanism of thesecond preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a 5pivoting member 56′ and a carrying seat 53′. The pivoting member 56′ isformed of a stop portion 561 of a right-angled, triangular construction,a tongue 56 extending slantingly and upwardly from the vertical side ofthe stop portion, and two pivots 57′ located at the non-vertical sidesof the stop portion 561. The carrying seat 53′ is provided at one endwith two arms 531 which are parallel to each other and are provided witha pivoting hole 532. The pivoting member 56′ is fastened pivotallybetween the two arms 531 of the carrying seat 53′. The carrying seat 53′is provided at other end with a recess (not shown in the drawings). Thecarrying seat 53′ can be fastened securely in the fastening hole 51shown in FIG. 2.

[0035] When the outer track 30 is joined with the middle track 20, thetongue 59 of the pivoting member 56′ is contiguous to one side of thecarrying seat 53′. The stop portion 561 is exposed at other side of thecarrying seat 53′, as shown in FIG. 6A. The front end of the foldedportion 44 of the bottom plate 41 of the ball bearing member 40 can bestopped by the vertical side of the stop portion 561.

[0036] In the process of separating the outer track 30 from the middletrack 20, the pivoting member 56′ is first so turned that the stopportion 561 is no longer exposed at the other side of the carrying seat53′, as shown in FIG. 6B. As a result, the front end of the foldedportion 44 of the bottom plate 41 of the ball bearing member 40 is notstopped by the vertical side of the stop portion 561, thereby enablingthe outer track 30 together with the ball bearing member 40 to becompletely pulled out of the middle track 20.

What is claimed is:
 1. A sliding track structure comprising: a middletrack having an H-shaped cross section, comprising a horizontal plate,and two vertical plates fastened respectively at two sides of saidhorizontal plate; an inner track adapted to be fastened with a table,bureau, vanity, or the like; an outer track adapted to be fastened witha drawer of the table, bureau, vanity, or the like; an inner ballbearing member mounted on one side of said two vertical plates of saidmiddle track to enable said inner track to slide along a longitudinaldirection of said middle track on said one side thereof; and an outerball bearing member mounted on other side of said two vertical plates ofsaid middle track to enable said outer track to slide along thelongitudinal direction of said middle track on said other side thereof;wherein said outer track is provided at one end with an arresting pieceto prevent separation of said outer ball bearing member from the one endof said outer track; said outer ball bearing member is provided with afolded portion close to said horizontal plate of said middle track forpreventing said outer ball bearing member from separating from saidmiddle track, wherein said folded portion; wherein said horizontal plateof said middle track is provided with a separation mechanism which isable to be switched between a locking position and an unlockingposition; when said separation mechanism is in said locking position, itwill be in contact with a front end of said folded portion of said outerball bearing member at the time when said outer track is slid along thelongitudinal direction of said middle track toward a front end of saidmiddle track, so that the outer track together with the outer ballbearing member are retained with the middle track; when said separationmechanism is in the unlocking position, said folded portion of saidouter ball bearing member will move past said separation mechanism atthe time when said outer track is slid along the longitudinal directionof said middle track toward the front end of said middle track, so thatsaid outer track and said outer ball bearing member are separated fromsaid middle track.
 2. The sliding track structure as defined in claim 1,wherein said separation mechanism comprises a sliding member having astop portion and a sliding portion, said sliding member being receivedin a receiving hole on the horizontal plate and at the front end of saidmiddle track such that said stop portion is jutted out of said receivinghole to be contiguous to said outer track, and further that said slidingportion is contiguous to said horizontal plate of said middle track,when said separation mechanism is in said locking position, wherein saidstop portion is adapted to be in contact with said front end of saidfolded portion of said outer ball bearing member; and still further thatsaid stop portion is not jutted out of said receiving hole, when saidseparation mechanism is in said unlocking position, wherein said stopportion is not able to be in contact with said front end of said foldedportion of said outer ball bearing member.
 3. The sliding trackstructure as defined in claim 2, wherein said sliding member comprises acube as said stop portion and a tongue extending from said cube, whereinsaid cube is partially jutted out of said receiving hole to becontiguous to said outer track, and said tongue is contiguous to saidinner track, when said separation mechanism is in said locking position.4. The sliding track structure as defined in claim 2, wherein saidsliding member comprises a cube acting as said stop portion, and twoinclined slots located in two opposite sides of said cube to act as saidsliding portion; wherein said separation mechanism further comprises twoinclined pillars located at two opposite sides of said receiving hole ofsaid horizontal plate of said middle track, and said two inclinedpillars are received in said two inclined slots.
 5. The sliding trackstructure as defined in claim 3, wherein said sliding member comprises acube acting as said stop portion, and two inclined slots located in twoopposite sides of said cube to act as said sliding portion; wherein saidseparation mechanism further comprises two inclined pillars located attwo opposite sides of said receiving hole of said horizontal plate ofsaid middle track, and said two inclined pillars are received in saidtwo inclined slots.
 6. The sliding track structure as defined in claim4, wherein said separation mechanism further comprises a carrying seatwhich is fastened with the front end of said horizontal plate of saidmiddle track and is provided with a rectangular hole serving as saidreceiving hole, with said rectangular hole being equal in width to saidcube and being greater in length to said cube; wherein said two inclinedpillars are located in two opposite sides of said rectangular hole ofsaid carrying seat.
 7. The sliding track structure as defined in claim5, wherein said separation mechanism further comprises a carrying seatwhich is fastened with the front end of said horizontal plate of saidmiddle track and is provided with a rectangular hole serving as saidreceiving hole, with said rectangular hole being equal in width to saidcube and being greater in length to said cube; wherein said two inclinedpillars are located in two opposite sides of said rectangular hole ofsaid carrying seat.
 8. The sliding track structure as defined in claim6, wherein said horizontal plate of said middle track is provided at thefront end thereof with a rectangular fastening hole corresponding tosaid carrying seat; wherein said carrying seat is provided in the fringewith an insertion slot for fitting three side edges of said rectangularfastening hole; wherein said horizontal plate of said middle track isprovided with a pliable confinement piece at the remaining side edges ofsaid rectangular fastening hole for confining said carrying seat in saidfastening hole.
 9. The sliding track structure as defined in claim 7,wherein said horizontal plate of said middle track is provided at thefront end thereof with a rectangular fastening hole corresponding tosaid carrying seat; wherein said carrying seat is provided in the fringewith an insertion slot for fitting three side edges of said rectangularfastening hole; wherein said horizontal plate of said middle track isprovided with a pliable confinement piece at the remaining side edges ofsaid rectangular fastening hole for confining said carrying seat in saidfastening hole.
 10. The sliding track structure as defined in claim 1,wherein said separation mechanism comprises a pivoting member, and acarrying seat which is fastened with the horizontal plate and at thefront end of said middle track, said pivoting member comprising a stopportion and a tongue, said pivoting member being fastened pivotally withsaid carrying seat such that said tongue is jutted out of one side ofthe horizontal plate of said middle track, and that said stop portion isjutted out of other side of the horizontal plate of said middle track,and further that said stop portion is contiguous to said outer track,when said separation mechanism is in said locking position, wherein saidstop portion is adapted to be in contact with said front end of saidfolded portion of said outer ball bearing member; and still further thatsaid stop portion of said pivoting member is turned to said one side ofthe horizontal plate of said middle track, when said separationmechanism is in said unlocking position, wherein said stop portion isnot able to be in contact with said front end of said folded portion ofsaid outer ball bearing member.
 11. The sliding track structure asdefined in claim 10, wherein said pivoting member comprises aright-angled triangular body serving as said stop portion, said tongueis extended upwardly and slantingly from a vertical side of saidright-angled triangular body, and said carrying seat is provided at oneend with two arms which are parallel to each other and are provided witha pivoting hole, wherein two pivots are provided on two opposite sidesof said right-angled triangular body and at positions away from saidvertical side of right-angled triangular body, and said pivoting memberis fastened pivotally between said two arms with said two pivots beingreceived in said pivoting holes, such that said tongue of said pivotingmember is contiguous to one side of said carrying seat, and that saidright-angled triangular body is exposed at other side of said carryingseat at the time when said separation is in said locking position; andsaid pivoting member is turned to said one side of said carrying seat,so that said right-angled triangular body is not exposed at other sideof said carrying seat, when said separation mechanism is in saidunlocking position